Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of the Master of Technology in Fashion, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / The years succeeding 1990 have seen a significant increase in the release of mainstream film featuring transgendered characters. The inclusion of such characters in popular film becomes a point of interest as transgendered identities differ from the hegemonic heterosexism of the audiences at whom these films are targeted. This investigation aims to gain a better understanding of how audience members read gendered identity through the visual appearance of drag queen characters in mainstream film. Due to the emblematic contrast between the male body and a hyper-feminine dress aesthetic, drag queens pose an overt visual challenge to the normative expectation of anatomical sex determining gender and gendered expression. This investigation is conducted from the paradigmatic perspective that recognises the impossibility of a ‘correct’ reading of dress aesthetics and is thus concerned with discovering the various gendered meanings audience members may attach to drag costume in film. This interpretivist standpoint, however, is held in conjunction with the critical understanding that prevalent contemporary socio-political constructs with regard to gender and dress will undoubtedly affect these perceptions. Segments from selected Hollywood films featuring drag queen protagonists were screened for a heterogeneous focus group and the subsequent discussion analysed through critical discourse analysis. Academic discourse concerning the socially constructed gender dichotomy and the debated subversive potential of the drag act is reviewed in order to provide a theoretical framework for analysing the participants’ comprehension of gendered performance. Gendered associations with dress and the body together with film theory are examined to better understand how an audience may perceive gendered identity through drag costume in film and what affect this may have on their conception of sartorial gendered expressions in reality. Finally, to situate and provide further context for this investigation, Queer theory critiques of the representation and reception of transgendered characters in past mainstream films are considered. / M

This thesis explores the implications of visibility and invisibility of transgender people, their constructed bodies, and how these bodies are used for both personal empowerment and education. By using various gender theorists for support, I argue that the transgender male body obtains power through visibility. Despite the many obstacles transgender males face, putting their bodies in a space of visibility gives them both personal power and the power to educate others about their bodies and sexuality. In doing a study of the human body and the different definitions applied to it, I show how we, as a society, are restricted by gender binaries and how the transgender body serves as a gap between the socially-constructed terms. Ultimately, transgender people are able to break through these barriers by subverting the definitions and meaning of “male” and “female.” / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

A presente dissertação tem o objetivo de discutir a proposta dos critérios diagnósticos da CID-11 para Incongruência de Gênero e comparar as diretrizes dos manuais diagnósticos DSM-5 e CID-10 para Disforia de Gênero e Transtorno de Identidade de Gênero, respectivamente. A Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) está em processo de revisão da Classificação Internacional de Doenças (CID). Diferentemente do sistema de classificação vigente (CID-10), as modificações propostas pela CID-11 no que diz respeito à condição transexual são norteadas pela compreensão de que esta não é doença mental e que o acesso à saúde desta população necessita ser ampliado. O artigo derivado desta dissertação compara os critérios nos manuais diagnósticos existentes, o DSM-5 e da CID-10, em uma amostra brasileira de pessoas transexuais que procuraram serviços de saúde especificamente para a transição física. Este é um estudo transversal multicêntrico que inclui uma amostra de 103 indivíduos que procuraram os serviços em um dos dois principais centros de referência no Brasil especializados em identidade de gênero. O método da pesquisa consiste na aplicação, por profissionais previamente treinados, de uma entrevista estruturada desenvolvida pelo WHO´s Field Study Coordination Group for ICD-11 Mental and Behavioural Disorders que contempla os critérios diagnósticos. Os resultados revelam que, embora exista desacordo teórico nos critérios há uma sobreposição entre os dois sistemas quanto à confirmação do diagnóstico, com o DSM-5 mais inclusivo. Adicionalmente, a média do tempo de espera para ter acesso a este tipo de serviço é de quase uma década. Nossos achados confirmam a ideia de que há pouco consenso quanto aos critérios diagnósticos dos comportamentos transgêneros, considerando a diversidade de contextos sociais e culturais e que seguem com pouca diferenciação tanto etiológica quanto clínica para fins diagnósticos. / The current work aims to discuss the proposed diagnostic criteria of ICD-11 for Gender Incongruence and compare the diagnostic criteria of DSM-5 and ICD-10 Gender Dysphoria and Gender Identity Disorder, respectively. The World Health Organization (WHO) is reviewing the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Despite the existing classification system (ICD-10), changes proposed by ICD-11 concerning transgender condition are guided by the understanding that it is not a mental illness and that this population needs health service access to be expanded. The study derived from this work aim to compare the criteria in the existing diagnostic manuals, the DSM-5 and the ICD-10, among a Brazilian sample of transgender persons who sought health services specifically for physical transition. This is a multicenter cross-sectional study that includes a sample of 103 subjects who sought services for gender identity disorder in one of two main reference centers in Brazil. The research method consists of applying a structured interview, which is comprised of the diagnostic criteria from the two manuals. The results reveal that although the theoretical disagreement in the criteria, there is an overlap among the two systems as diagnosis confirmation, to the DSM-5 more inclusive. Additionally, the average waiting time to access this type of service is nearly a decade. Although there is not a consensus concerning such on transgenderism in the diversity of social and cultural contexts, the findings confirm previous impression that despite efforts to determine the diagnostic settings, they follow slightly different as to etiology and different clinical presentations of this condition.

This dissertation examines the political economy of HIV biomedical prevention research—largely designed in the global North but conducted in the global South—and its implications for people of diverse genders and sexualities. As a recognized global leader in HIV biomedical prevention research among people categorized as men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women, Peru offers a key site in which to explore the increasing focus on gender and sexual identity as a strategic area for extractive research practices. This phenomenon has become particularly visible in the epidemic’s 4th decade, which has emphasized the pursuit of biomedical prevention strategies. Building on nine years of previous experience working inside HIV biomedical prevention studies, this project involved 24 months of ethnographic research, including participant observation; 110 interviews with scientists, study staff, and research subjects; 10 focus groups; and analyses of relevant scientific publications. This study presents four key findings. First, US and Peruvian researchers’ historical and continued entanglement primed Peru to become a hotbed of HIV biomedical prevention research. In this context, population categories imported from the global North have served as powerful tools to sustain a booming local research market, which produces data that aligns with the global demands of the HIV industry. Second, on the ground, research begets more research rather than institutionalized HIV prevention technologies, creating a sustained enterprise in which issues of compensation, value, and labor shape the science. The commodification of gender and sexually diverse identities operates here in two ways: as a mechanism to access particular kinds of bodies and associated HIV risk data, and as a mechanism by which to claim expertise in the HIV prevention research industry for both researchers and community members. Third, Peruvians classified as MSM and transgender women are afforded only temporary access to cutting-edge strategies to prevent HIV, limited to study participation. The result is a sustained pool of people in need of HIV care primed to support the HIV biomedical research economy. Finally, this project illuminates a key paradox within the industry’s contemporary focus on gender and sexual diversity in HIV prevention science. This focus creates the impression that progressive health politics marked the field, while obscuring and absolving ongoing forms of exploitation and unequal gains embedded within it.

Male androphilia (i.e., male sexual attraction to males) is an evolutionary paradox. It is unclear how genes for male androphilia persist given that androphilic males have lowered reproduction? Evidence suggests that ancestral androphilic males were transgendered. Hence, I address this paradox by focusing on a group of Samoan transgendered androphilic males (i.e., fa’afafine). Specifically, I show that male androphilia has consistent developmental correlates across Samoan and Western populations, indicating that fa’afafine provide a suitable model for the evolution of male androphilia across populations. In addition, I test hypotheses concerning the evolution of male androphilia. Fa’afafine’s mothers and grandmothers exhibit elevated reproduction. Also, compared to Samoan men and women, fa’afafine exhibit unique kin-investment cognition that would enhance indirect fitness. Elevated reproduction by female kin, and enhanced kin investments may, therefore, contribute to the evolution of male androphilia. Lastly, I outline a developmental model for this unique kin-investment cognition in androphilic males. / xvii, 201 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm

A presente dissertação tem o objetivo de discutir a proposta dos critérios diagnósticos da CID-11 para Incongruência de Gênero e comparar as diretrizes dos manuais diagnósticos DSM-5 e CID-10 para Disforia de Gênero e Transtorno de Identidade de Gênero, respectivamente. A Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) está em processo de revisão da Classificação Internacional de Doenças (CID). Diferentemente do sistema de classificação vigente (CID-10), as modificações propostas pela CID-11 no que diz respeito à condição transexual são norteadas pela compreensão de que esta não é doença mental e que o acesso à saúde desta população necessita ser ampliado. O artigo derivado desta dissertação compara os critérios nos manuais diagnósticos existentes, o DSM-5 e da CID-10, em uma amostra brasileira de pessoas transexuais que procuraram serviços de saúde especificamente para a transição física. Este é um estudo transversal multicêntrico que inclui uma amostra de 103 indivíduos que procuraram os serviços em um dos dois principais centros de referência no Brasil especializados em identidade de gênero. O método da pesquisa consiste na aplicação, por profissionais previamente treinados, de uma entrevista estruturada desenvolvida pelo WHO´s Field Study Coordination Group for ICD-11 Mental and Behavioural Disorders que contempla os critérios diagnósticos. Os resultados revelam que, embora exista desacordo teórico nos critérios há uma sobreposição entre os dois sistemas quanto à confirmação do diagnóstico, com o DSM-5 mais inclusivo. Adicionalmente, a média do tempo de espera para ter acesso a este tipo de serviço é de quase uma década. Nossos achados confirmam a ideia de que há pouco consenso quanto aos critérios diagnósticos dos comportamentos transgêneros, considerando a diversidade de contextos sociais e culturais e que seguem com pouca diferenciação tanto etiológica quanto clínica para fins diagnósticos. / The current work aims to discuss the proposed diagnostic criteria of ICD-11 for Gender Incongruence and compare the diagnostic criteria of DSM-5 and ICD-10 Gender Dysphoria and Gender Identity Disorder, respectively. The World Health Organization (WHO) is reviewing the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Despite the existing classification system (ICD-10), changes proposed by ICD-11 concerning transgender condition are guided by the understanding that it is not a mental illness and that this population needs health service access to be expanded. The study derived from this work aim to compare the criteria in the existing diagnostic manuals, the DSM-5 and the ICD-10, among a Brazilian sample of transgender persons who sought health services specifically for physical transition. This is a multicenter cross-sectional study that includes a sample of 103 subjects who sought services for gender identity disorder in one of two main reference centers in Brazil. The research method consists of applying a structured interview, which is comprised of the diagnostic criteria from the two manuals. The results reveal that although the theoretical disagreement in the criteria, there is an overlap among the two systems as diagnosis confirmation, to the DSM-5 more inclusive. Additionally, the average waiting time to access this type of service is nearly a decade. Although there is not a consensus concerning such on transgenderism in the diversity of social and cultural contexts, the findings confirm previous impression that despite efforts to determine the diagnostic settings, they follow slightly different as to etiology and different clinical presentations of this condition.

A presente dissertação tem o objetivo de discutir a proposta dos critérios diagnósticos da CID-11 para Incongruência de Gênero e comparar as diretrizes dos manuais diagnósticos DSM-5 e CID-10 para Disforia de Gênero e Transtorno de Identidade de Gênero, respectivamente. A Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) está em processo de revisão da Classificação Internacional de Doenças (CID). Diferentemente do sistema de classificação vigente (CID-10), as modificações propostas pela CID-11 no que diz respeito à condição transexual são norteadas pela compreensão de que esta não é doença mental e que o acesso à saúde desta população necessita ser ampliado. O artigo derivado desta dissertação compara os critérios nos manuais diagnósticos existentes, o DSM-5 e da CID-10, em uma amostra brasileira de pessoas transexuais que procuraram serviços de saúde especificamente para a transição física. Este é um estudo transversal multicêntrico que inclui uma amostra de 103 indivíduos que procuraram os serviços em um dos dois principais centros de referência no Brasil especializados em identidade de gênero. O método da pesquisa consiste na aplicação, por profissionais previamente treinados, de uma entrevista estruturada desenvolvida pelo WHO´s Field Study Coordination Group for ICD-11 Mental and Behavioural Disorders que contempla os critérios diagnósticos. Os resultados revelam que, embora exista desacordo teórico nos critérios há uma sobreposição entre os dois sistemas quanto à confirmação do diagnóstico, com o DSM-5 mais inclusivo. Adicionalmente, a média do tempo de espera para ter acesso a este tipo de serviço é de quase uma década. Nossos achados confirmam a ideia de que há pouco consenso quanto aos critérios diagnósticos dos comportamentos transgêneros, considerando a diversidade de contextos sociais e culturais e que seguem com pouca diferenciação tanto etiológica quanto clínica para fins diagnósticos. / The current work aims to discuss the proposed diagnostic criteria of ICD-11 for Gender Incongruence and compare the diagnostic criteria of DSM-5 and ICD-10 Gender Dysphoria and Gender Identity Disorder, respectively. The World Health Organization (WHO) is reviewing the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Despite the existing classification system (ICD-10), changes proposed by ICD-11 concerning transgender condition are guided by the understanding that it is not a mental illness and that this population needs health service access to be expanded. The study derived from this work aim to compare the criteria in the existing diagnostic manuals, the DSM-5 and the ICD-10, among a Brazilian sample of transgender persons who sought health services specifically for physical transition. This is a multicenter cross-sectional study that includes a sample of 103 subjects who sought services for gender identity disorder in one of two main reference centers in Brazil. The research method consists of applying a structured interview, which is comprised of the diagnostic criteria from the two manuals. The results reveal that although the theoretical disagreement in the criteria, there is an overlap among the two systems as diagnosis confirmation, to the DSM-5 more inclusive. Additionally, the average waiting time to access this type of service is nearly a decade. Although there is not a consensus concerning such on transgenderism in the diversity of social and cultural contexts, the findings confirm previous impression that despite efforts to determine the diagnostic settings, they follow slightly different as to etiology and different clinical presentations of this condition.

For many years trans people have been treated as suffering from some pathology, proposing various curative treatments as a solution to their alleged health problem. However, recent studies show that gender identity of people is a very personal and diverse characteristic so must be protected. In this article, the author explains how an understanding of gender identity that is respectful of human rights involves rethinking the State’s view of transgender people. This change of perspective requires discarding the pathological vision and opting for a system that will equip them with the necessary tools to develop their identity and avoid discrimination. / Durante muchos años se ha tratado a las personas trans como si sufriesen de alguna patología, proponiéndose diversos tratamientos curativos como solución a su supuesto problema de salud. Sin embargo, recientes estudios muestran que la identidad de género de las personas es una característica personalísima y diversa por lo cual debe ser protegida.En el presente artículo, el autor explica como una compresión de la identidad de género que sea respetuosa de los derechos humanos implica replantear la visión del Estado sobre las personas trans. Dicho cambio de perspectiva requiere descartar la visión patológica y optar por un sistema que otorgue las herramientas necesarias para expresar su identidad y evitar situaciones de discriminación.

Bakgrund: Transpersoner är en del av samlingsnamnet HBTQI och inkluderar alla personer som anser att deras könsidentitet inte stämmer med deras kön vid födseln. Stigma och juridiska hinder präglar transpersoners värld vilket kan vara några anledningar till att transpersoner inte vill söka vård. Syfte: Syftet är att beskriva transpersoners erfarenheter av fysiska vårdmöten med sjuksköterskor inom primär- och slutenvården. Metod: En litteraturöversikt som utgått från tolv artiklar med kvalitativ design med fokus på transpersonernas perspektiv. Artiklarna publicerades mellan 2016–2022 och samlades in från Cinahl, Medline och PsycINFO. Analysen gjordes med Fribergs analysmodell. Resultat: Resultatet resulterade i tre huvudteman; diskriminering, sjuksköterskans kompetens och bristen på samskapande vård. Identifieringen av sex subteman gjordes; integritet och respekt, att bli felaktigt könsidentifierad, bristande kunskap hos sjuksköterskor, att utbilda sjuksköterskor, beroendeställning till sjuksköterskor och könsspecifik vård. Slutsats: Arbetet indikerar att en förändring kring bemötande med transpersoner måste ske för att öka tilliten till vården. En ökad tillit till vården kan leda till en ökad vilja att söka vård vid behov. Förslag till vidare forskning är en intervjustudie som kartlägger utbildningsbehovet kring könsspecifik vård. / Background: Transgender people are part of the collective name LGBTQI and include all people who feel that their gender identity does not match their gender at birth. The existence of the refusal to seek care due to various reasons, such as stigma and legal obstacles, characterizes the world of transgender people. Aim: The aim is to describe transgender people's experiences of physical care meetings with nurses in primary- and inpatient care. Method: A literature review based on twelve articles with qualitative design focusing on trans people's perspective. The articles were published between 2016–2022 and were collected from Cinahl, Medline and PsycINFO. The analysis was done with Friberg's analysis model. Result: The result showed three main themes; discrimination, the nurse´s competence, and the lack of co-creative care. The identification of six subthemes was done; integrity and respect, to be incorrectly gender-identified, lack of knowledge among nurses, to train nurses, dependence on nurses and gender-specific care. Conclusion: The literature review indicates that a change in treatment of transgender people must take place to increase trust in healthcare. Increased trust in care can lead to an increased willingness to seek care when needed. Proposals for further research are an interview study that maps the educational need for gender-specific care.

This qualitative interview study was designed to explore with Trans-Spectrum college students, including graduates, current students, and dropouts, how they have conceptualized and made meaning of their experiences in traditionally Red States since the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election. This study resulted in recommendations that would enable administrators in both community colleges and four-year institutions to implement specific practices to improve learning environments and access to resources for Trans-Spectrum college students. The researcher based this study on three principal assumptions: (1) there is a population of Trans-Spectrum college students in these Red States. Although no data exist on the number of transgender students in higher education per state, these students must exist. (2) Trans-Spectrum college students in these Red States face an array of challenges every day both on and off campus from bullying and family struggles to financial struggles to suicidality. (3) The 2016 U.S. Presidential Election had a negative impact on these participants’ college experiences. Interviews conducted with 25 participants comprised the primary data for this study. Participants included students presently attending community college; students presently attending four-year institutions; recent graduates of both community colleges and four-year institutions; and students who departed college. A document review also yielded data. The findings regarding the experiences of Trans-Spectrum college students in Red States since the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election were: (1) A strong majority of participants described their overall college experiences as being shaped by an uncertain and unpredictable learning environment. (2) A strong majority of participants indicated that the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election had a compromising effect on their safety and well-being on campus and in their community. (3) All participants described experiencing issues related to access to resources, campus-wide illiteracy on trans issues, and race and gender identity, while an overwhelming majority of participants described having mental health issues. A strong majority reported incidents of being bullied on campus and in the college community. (4) An overwhelming majority of participants identified a support system as a significant factor in helping them learn to overcome their challenges. The key recommendations that emerged from this study were: (1) Community Colleges should create an Intake Form on which students have the option to self-identify in terms of sexual orientation and gender identity. This will enable these colleges to track data on completion, persistence, and retention of Trans-Spectrum students. (2) Both community colleges and four-year institutions should invest more in mental health services and consider investing more resources in on-campus mental health personnel and resources. (3) Both community colleges and four-year institutions should build community partnerships to provide more resources for Trans-Spectrum students.